With preparations already underway here at the IPI for the new 2013 Indians prospect rankings and also a new position-by-position breakdown (starting later this week), Tony takes a look at values of all the minor league players that finished the season at Triple-A Columbus and Cleveland. Over the past few months during his research for the upcoming 2013 prospect listing he has spoken with numerous people within the Indians organization as well as scouts and personnel outside the organization, and shares those insights and more.

The IPI's Steve Orbanek returns with his latest Then & Now. This week, Steve takes a look at outfielder Tim Fedroff, who is coming off a fantastic 2012 campaign between Akron and Columbus. However, Fedroff will be eligible for the Rule 5 Draft in December, so what is his future in the organization moving forward? Steve takes a look after the jump.

T.J. McFarland just completed an up-and-down season for the Akron Aeros and Columbus Clippers. Now, the left-handed starter is very much on the radar of the Major League club. But what does the future hold for McFarland? Is he a pitcher in the mold of Aaron Laffey or Jeremy Sowers? Or is he something more? The IPI's Steve Orbanek looks back at McFarland's career in this week's edition of Then & Now.

Today we wrap up the 2012 Tony Awards with the announcement of the All-Tony teams for 2012. These are the first, second, and third teams as I see them in the Cleveland Indians organization based on their performance this past year. Again, this is not a top prospect listing by position, but a listing based 100% on performance from the 2012 season.

Today we continue the IPI’s year-end awards with the announcement of the Offensive Player of the Year. This award goes to the position player in the Indians organization that had the best year offensively and like with all the awards so far is 100% based on performance and not on prospect standing. This is the final “Tony Award” to be handed out, but this weekend the "All-Tony" team will be posted as Tony lists the best players this season position-by-position in a “1st team” and “2nd team” format.

Today we continue the IPI’s year-end awards with the announcement of the Pitcher of the Year. This award goes to the starting pitcher in the Indians organization that had the best year from a performance perspective, not necessarily from a prospect standing. Later this week the Offensive Player of the Year and All-Tony Team will be announced.

Today we continue the IPI’s year-end awards with the announcement of the Comeback Player of the Year. This award goes to the player who came back from a rough 2011 season – be it due to injury or performance – and any other obstacles to put up a very good 2012 season and reestablished and/or solidified himself as a prospect for the Indians. In the coming days the Pitcher of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year and All-Tony Team will be announced.

Today we continue the IPI postseason awards with the announcement of the Relief Pitcher of the Year. The starting pitchers often get most of the focus, so this award gives an opportunity to showcase and recognize some of the top relief pitching performances over the course of the 2012 season. In the coming days the Comeback Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year and All-Tony Team will be announced.

Today we continue the IPI postseason awards with the announcement of the Biggest Breakthrough. This award goes to the player who may not have been as highly touted coming into the season on prospect lists, but by the end of the season is definitely on the prospect map going into next season. In the coming days the Reliever of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year and All-Tony Team will be announced.

Jared Goedert just recently completed a brilliant 2012 season for the Indians' minor league affiliates. However, despite his performance, Goedert never received a call-up to the Show even though many of his peers did. Just what does the future hold for Goedert? IPI's Steve Orbanek offers his take as he looks back at Goedert's career in this week's edition of Then & Now.

Today we continue the IPI postseason awards with the announcement of the Biggest Disappointment, the one year end award no one wants to win. This award goes to the player who was a highly rated prospect coming into the season who performed poorly or suffered through an injury plagued season. In the coming days the Biggest Breakthrough, Reliever of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year and All-Tony Team will be announced.

Today we continue with the IPI’s year-end awards with the announcement of the Defensive Player of the Year, an award given to the Indians minor leaguer who had the best season defensively. Prospect standing is not considered with these awards as they are 100% awarded based on performance. In the coming days the Biggest Disappointment, Biggest Breakthrough, Reliever of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year and All-Tony Team will be announced.

The minor league 2012 season officially ended for the Indians over the weekend with Double-A Akron winning a league title, but the beat goes on with Instructional League already in session and other fall and winter leagues set to start in the next few weeks. Today, Tony checks in with another Minor Happenings piece and takes a deep look into first baseman Chun Chen's future with the Indians and also provides tons of comments from the Indians front office on the likes of guys named Salazar, Guilmet, Urshela, Radeke, and more. Also, be on the lookout for the first Instructional League game recap later today or first thing tomorrow.

In today’s Minor Happenings, Tony takes a look at the positive strides that Alex Lavisky has made this season and how he has legitimized himself as a catching prospect. In addition to that he discusses and breaks down how right-handed pitcher Cole Cook is back on the prospect radar, how first baseman Jesus Aguilar has solidified his prospect status this season, and provides tons of comments from Ross Atkins on the Lake County team.

Triple-A Columbus missed the playoffs for the first time in two years, but they still had a winning record at 75-69 and had several bright spots from a player development standpoint. In the first piece of a six-part series recapping all six of the Indians' stateside affiliates, Tony recently sat down with the Indians front office and discussed Columbus' season, some of the promising developments made by several players, and some players that could be in the Major League mix next season.

The minor league season may be over, but there is no end in sight for Minor Happenings or the minor league coverage here on the IPI. In this week’s Minor Happenings, Tony takes a look at the emergence of Low-A Lake County second baseman Jose Ramirez and what kind of prospect he really is, the strong finish from Lake County catcher Jake Lowery, and the good year but unfortunate injury to short season Single-A Mahoning Valley lefty Geoff Davenport. As always, he has lots of quotes on players like Matt Langwell, Carlos Moncrief, Matt Packer and others provided by the front office, and lots more.

The Toledo Mud Hens bats' exploded at Fifth Third Field on Sunday night as they defeated the Columbus Clippers, 8-5, in front of a sell-out crowd. The scoring started early as first inning homers by Jerad Head and Danny Dorn got the Hens off to a 3-0 lead.

In today’s Minor Happenings, Tony looks at the very strong season that High-A Carolina third baseman Giovanny Urshela has had and the jump he has made as a prospect. He also touches on the season that Carolina right-handed pitcher Jordan Cooper has had and what it may mean for his future, provides lots of comments from Ross Atkins on some of their rising young Latin American stars, and provides injury updates and more on players like Lars Anderson, Adam Abraham, Carlos Moncrief, Tyler Naquin, and others.t

Available IBI Books

The 2014 Cleveland Indians Baseball Insider book featuring the Indians' Top 100 Prospects and more is now available. Also, previous editions from 2008-2012 are also available at a discounted rate. Just click on the book image for more information. Thanks again for all the support!